BENGALURU: Believe it or not, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike is spending crores on keeping your streets clean — and that too only to buy brooms!
The Palike gives Rs 200 every month to each pourakarmika to buy brooms and transfers Rs 600 every three months to the accounts of 18,600 pourakarmikas directly. This means that the civic body is spending Rs 37,20,000 every months towards brooms, which comes up to Rs 4,46,40,000 every year!
“We need one broom every week to sweep the streets, but they tell us to manage with the Rs 600 that is given every three months. Each broom costs Rs 110 and we have been asking for more, but they are not giving it to us”, said a civic worker.
“We need six brooms every month. To clean the roads, we need two brooms at a time. Sometimes, we have to borrow money from others”, said another civic worker.”
“We are giving the money directly to the pourakarmikas. The finance special commissioner informed that BMP was providing brooms earlier, but they were not satisifed with the quality and bulk requirement. He suggested that the amount be directly deposited in their accounts so that they can buy what suits them”, said BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath.